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Graduating duo garners national recognition for outstanding academic achievement.
Source: NMSU Athletics
Story and Photos By Matthew Knope
GREENWOOD, Ind. – College Sports Communicators (CSC) revealed its Academic All-District Softball Teams on Tuesday, May 27. Riley Carley and Kristiana Watson of NM State were each granted the national honor for their remarkable seasons both on and off the field. Watson, boasting a perfect 4.00 GPA, was one of 204 individuals selected to advance to the CSC Academic All-America® ballot, which will be revealed on June 17.
The national organization recognized the nation’s top 826 Division I student-athletes for their combined performances on the diamond and in the classroom. The CSC Academic All-America® program separately recognizes softball honorees in four divisions — NCAA Division I, NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III and NAIA.
Conference USA landed 28 student-athletes on the all-district teams, with eight institutions represented. Watson was one of seven members from CUSA selected to advance to the national ballot, alongside Jax State’s Emma Elrod, Liberty’s Rachel Roupe and Savannah Woodard, LA Tech’s Allie Floyd, UTEP’s Ajia Richard and WKU’s Maci Masters.
The Aggie duo shares not only academic excellence, but a childhood bond. Both sluggers were raised in Tucson, Ariz., where they met and played on the same club softball team growing up. Riley Carley was the first-ever NM State honoree on a CUSA All-Academic Team, earning the distinction in 2024. Earlier this month, Kristiana Watson matched her longtime teammate and friend, becoming one of just two student-athletes on the conference’s 2025 list to hold a 4.00 GPA (Communications Studies). Meanwhile, Carley, the sixth-year Aggie, impressed with a 3.90 mark while pursuing a master’s degree in sociology.
The Tucson natives are the only Aggies yet to be named to the CUSA All-Academic Team through two seasons in the league. The pairing of Carley and Watson helped lead the program to a cumulative 3.45 GPA this semester; up from a 3.34 mark in Fall 2024.
For complete coverage of NM State Softball during the 2025 season, visit NMStateSports.com – the official home of the Aggies – and follow the Aggies on Facebook (NM State Softball), Twitter (@NMStateSoftball) and Instagram (@NMStateSoftball).
